The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young mans feet, named Saul.

And the witnesses laide downe their cloathes at a young mans feete, named Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling on, and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said thus, he fell on sleep. 61 And Saul consented to his death.

59 And they stoned Steeuen, calling on, and saying: Lord Iesus, receiue my spirite. 60 And he kneeled downe, and cryed with a loude voyce: Lord, lay not this sinne to their charge. And when he had said thus, he fell on sleepe. 61 And Saul consented to his death.

And the witnesses. Luke signifieth that even in that tumult they observed some show of judgement. This was not commanded in vain that the witnesses should throw the first stone: because seeing they must commit the murder with their own hands, many are holden with a certain dread, who otherwise are less afraid to cut the throats of the innocent with perjury of the tongue. But in the mean season we gather how blind and mad the ungodliness of these witnesses was, who are not afraid to imbrue their bloody hands with the blood of an innocent, who had already committed murder with their tongues. Whereas he saith, that their clothes were laid down at the feet of Saul, he showeth that there was no let in him, but that being cast into a reprobate sense, he might have perished with the rest. For who would not think that he was desperate, who had infected his youth with such cruelty? Neither is his age expressed to lessen his fault, as some unskilful men go about to prove: for he was of those years, that want of knowledge could no whit excuse him. And Luke will shortly after declare, that he was sent by the high Priest to persecute the faithful. Therefore he was no child, he might well be counted a man. Why then is his youth mentioned? That every man may consider with him self, what great hurt he might have done in Gods Church, unless Christ had bridled him betimes. And therein appeareth a most notable token both of Gods power, and also of his grace, in that he tamed a fierce and wild beast in his chief fury, even in a moment, and in that he extolled a miserable murderer so highly, who through his wickedness was drowned almost in the deep pit of hell.